Burial-vault.



PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906-.

E. c. HODGES. BURIAL VAULT APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1906.

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EMERY o. 'HODGES, OF- BLOOMIINGTON, ILLINOIS.

BURlAL-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2a, 1906.

Application filed May 8, 1906.- Serial No. 315,084.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERY O. HODGES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the countyof McLean and State of Illinois,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Vaults, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in burial-vaults, and refers moreparticularly to a compartment or famil burial-vault adapted to be placedbeneat the ground and to contain a number of caskets.

The object of my invention is the provision of. a burial-vault whichwill occupy but a small amount of ground-space and will have a largecapacity for containing caskets,

which will be of simple, durable, and practicall indestructibleconstruction, which may lie readily assembled, and which is thoroughlypractical in every respect.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of areceptacle adapted to be embedded in the earth, said receptacle dividedinto vertical compartments by means of horizontal doors pivoted therein.

My invention further consists of a burial, vault embodying certain othernovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,substantially as disclosed herein.

Fi ure 1 is an end elevation of my improved vault in position for use.Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken on a transverseplane. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the vault.Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view thereof on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The numeral 1 designates the base of the vault, which is in the form ofa slab havin an annular mortise or channel 2 in the upper ace thereof,in which are adapted to fit the tenons 3 of the side and end walls 4 ofthe receptacle. End slabs 5-are fitted at the ends of the vault, andabove these slabs are pivoted the doors 6, which serve to divide thevault into superimposed compartments. These doors are in pairs and areformed at the ends with ball extensions 7, which engage sockets 8 in theend walls, and the meeting edges of the doors are formed with shoulderedportions to make a lap-joint 9. Recessed handolpenings 10 are providednear the edges of t e doors for opening the same, and the doors whenclosed are sup orted b the end slabs.

The vertical edges 0 the en and side walls are secured to 'ether bymortiseand-tenon joints 11, so that the receptacle is a very solidstructure. The upper interior edge of the vault is shouldered, as at 12,andengag- When the vault is in position in the ground,

the first casket is placed in the lowermost compartment and the doors ofsaid com-v partment'are sealed. The upper compartments are then filledin order and sealed, so that the entire round-space occupied by thevault is utilized, and an economical burial system is thereby provided.I

From this description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will beevident that I have accomplished all the ob'ects herein set I forth andhave provided a simple, durable, and economical means for disposing ofthe Gad-1 I prefer to make'the entire vault of an artificia -stone comosition invented by myself; but I do'not'wisli to limit myself to thisparticular material, as many different materials may be used.

I claim- 1. ha burial-vault, the combination with a receptacle, ofhorizontal doors havin inter locking edges dividing said receptac e intovertical compartments, and a cover to the receptacle.

2. In a burial-vault, the combination with a receptacle, of doorsarranged in pairs and dividing. the receptacle into compartments arraned one above'the other.

3. In a burial-vault, the combination with a receptacle adapted to beplaced in the ground, of doorsarranged in pairs having in- 1 into tiersof horizontal compartments, and 10 terlocking edges and pivoted in saidreoeptaen'd slabs for supporting the doors.

ole to divide it into vertioa1ly-arrangedcom In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature partments, and end slabs for supporting the inpresence of two witnesses.

doors.

4. The combination with Biblllifld-Vfllilt, of EMERY HODGES' doorspivoted by ball-and-socket joint in Witnesses:

said vault, said doors arran ed in pairs hav- W.M. HOFFMAN, ingoverlapping joints to ivide the vault WM.'N.MOORE.

